2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

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What was the Canberra Raiders best moment of 2021?

Fourth SG Ball Premiership
3
19%
Savage debut
5
31%
Desperate win over Sea Eagles
0
No votes
Last gasp Rapana tackle wins clash with Eels
6
38%
Croker becomes third highest point scorer in NRL history
1
6%
Three Wighton try assists, hat trick for Simonsson
0
No votes
Rapana magic try against Warriors
0
No votes
Rapana wins Meninga Medal
1
6%
 
Total votes: 16

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greeneyed
Don Furner
Posts: 145095
Joined: January 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by greeneyed »

2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Every year, the readers of The Greenhouse vote on the highs and lows of the season just past. The Players of the Year are determined by the Fans' Choice voting, but all the other categories are determined by fan polls.

In this poll we are voting for the Canberra Raiders' Best Moment of the Year. Sadly, the great moments were few and far between this season. If there is a moment not nominated in the poll, please post your selection. You have one vote in this poll.

The nominations are:

SG Ball Premiership: The Canberra Raiders won their fourth SG Ball Premiership in May, defeating the Illawarra Steelers, 18-14, at Leichhardt Oval. Man of the match, Trey Mooney, Caleb Esera and captain Clay Webb led the way up front, with the team's outstanding defence ultimately winning the game.





Savage debut: Xavier Savage was injected into his first NRL game against the Dragons in Round 15, when he was the 18th man. However, he was illegally used by the Raiders, and he had to come off after just 11 minutes. His embrace with his mother after leaving the field was a touching moment. The NRL ruled it was not an official appearance. That had to wait for the Round 17 clash with the Sea Eagles. He then put on a show the next week against the Sharks. The speed and skill he demonstrated at fullback really excited Raiders fans. And gave them some reason for hope. Sadly, injury intervened.



Desperate win over Sea Eagles: The Raiders' chances in 2021 were dwindling. But in their Round 17 clash with the Sea Eagles, they came with a plan and it worked. Both teams were without some of their best players, due to State of Origin. The Raiders were missing Josh Papalii and Jack Wighton. The Sea Eagles were without their two main play makers - Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans. But the Raiders did their job.



Last gasp Rapana tackle wins in clash with Eels: Round 19. It was committed. It was determined. It was courageous. That was rugby league. The Raiders came to tackle - and produced one of their greatest defensive performances in a two point win over the Eels. The intent, the aggression and the line speed was like it was in 2019. The game was summed up by a last gasp try saver from Jordan Rapana and Harley Smith-Shields on Eels winger Maika Sivo. They simply did whatever it took to win.





Jarrod Croker becomes third highest point scorer in NRL history: In the Round 19 clash with the Eels, Canberra's co-captain Jarrod Croker equaled the point scoring record of an all time great half, Johnathan Thurston - and became the equal third highest point scorer in NRL history. 2,222 points. He surpassed it the next week, when he converted Harley Smith-Shields try from the sideline in the 29th minute against the Knights. Only Cameron Smith and Hazem El Masri have scored more career points. Croker also passed the point scoring record of an Immortal, Andrew Johns, in the Round 5 match against the Panthers.





Three Wighton try assists, hat trick for Simonsson: Jack Wighton was back to his best in the Round 22 clash with the Storm. Three try assists for three tries for Bailey Simonsson. It was incredible. The first couple of tries were almost carbon copies, with sensational cut out passes from Wighton. The third followed a good Sam Williams kick to the corner. Wighton got a good bounce, and Simonsson was outside him, unmarked.





Rapana magic try: In Round 24, the Raiders' season was hanging by a thread in the match against the Warriors. With the scores deadlocked at 16 all, a field goal attempt from young Warriors fullback Reece Walsh sprayed well wide of the posts. The Raiders then marched up field - and a sensational try from Jordan Rapana saw the dam wall break. Matt Frawley set it in motion with a long pass, and it was followed up with another from Corey Horsburgh. Young, Kris, then Rapana was in the clear! What a moment.



Jordan Rapana wins first Meninga Medal: Veteran winger Jordan Rapana made a comeback in 2021, sealing a new two year deal and his first Meninga Medal. He also took out the Fans' Choice Player of the Year.



All the results: Click here

Vote in all the polls:

Rookie of the Year
Best win
Worst loss
Best moment
Worst moment
Try of the Year
Tackle of the Year
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greeneyed
Don Furner
Posts: 145095
Joined: January 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

Re: 2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by greeneyed »

I ended up going for the SG Ball Grand Final win. Enjoyable watching them play. Great to see them have success.
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RedRaider
Laurie Daley
Posts: 11265
Joined: March 3, 2007, 7:02 pm

Re: 2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by RedRaider »

If we were choosing an individual I could not go past Rapa, but I have gone for Team performance and that was the win against the Eels. Whatever the preparation for that game the Raiders showed belief. After a series of matches where the side faded away in the second half that was a match of 80 minute effort. It was one to savor and give hope to this Raiders fan - until the last game of the season which once again could at best be described as inept. But the Eels game showed when the motivation was there we had a side which could compete with a Top 8 side.
Billy Walker
Laurie Daley
Posts: 12395
Joined: April 29, 2017, 7:22 pm
Favourite Player: Ashley Gilbert

Re: 2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by Billy Walker »

Not so much the Savage fake debut or even his take 2 but the Savage break out game gives me some hope for the future
Raiderz77

Re: 2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by Raiderz77 »

SG BALL Prems hands down! A team where majority of the players took out the CCRL comp in 2020 and then went on to win SG BALL. Exciting times for the future of the club. Trey Mooney, Caleb Esera, JJ Clarkson and Clay Webb the list goes on.
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greeneyed
Don Furner
Posts: 145095
Joined: January 7, 2005, 4:21 pm

Re: 2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by greeneyed »

Poll declared. All the results so far: viewtopic.php?p=1831520#p1831520
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Seiffert82
Mal Meninga
Posts: 27845
Joined: March 17, 2007, 12:24 pm
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Re: 2021 Highs and Lows: Best moment

Post by Seiffert82 »

To be honest, the best moment was the release of the Milk throwback jerseys.

Good times! So much promise to be enjoyed in the preseason.

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